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March 24, 1964 J. v. FREDD ANCHORING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 21, 1959 John V Fredd ATTORNEY March 24, 1964 J. v. FREDD 3,126,059

ANCHORING DEVICE Filed April 21, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a: Fig.7 12ml INVENTOR John V. Fredd BY W i'g. 3 ATTORNEY March 24, 1964 J. V. FREDD ANCHORING DEVICE Filed April 21, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.5

INVENTOR John V. Fredd ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,126,059 ANCHORING DEVICE John V. Fredd, Dallas, Tex., assignor to Otis Engineering Corporation, Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 807,886 18 Claims. (Cl. 166-125) This invention relates to well tools and more particularly to well tools for securing subsurface well devices in preselected positions in a well conductor, such as a string of well tubing.

It is an important object of the invention to provide a well tool which can be removably locked in place in the pipe or tubing string at any collar recess thereof formed by the adjacent ends of two pipe or tubing string sections and the external collar connecting such ends.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved device for releasably anchoring well devices in a well flow conductor wherein the anchoring device has a collet provided with resilient collet fingers held in retracted positions by a retractor means which is movable out of engagement with the collet fingers upon upward movement of the anchoring device in the well flow conductor to free the collet fingers for movement to expanded positions for engagement in a collar recess of the well flow conductor to limit downward movement of the anchoring device in the well flow conductor.

Another object is to provide an improved device for releasably anchoring well devices in a well flow conductor, wherein the anchoring device has resilient collet fingers longitudinally slidably mounted on and disposed about the mandrel and held in retracted positions by a retractor means which is movable out of engagement with the resilient fingers upon upward movement of the anchoring device in a well flow conductor to free the collet fingers for movement to expanded positions for engagement in a collar recess of the well flow conductor to limit downward movement of the anchoring device in the well flow conductor, the retracting means being a sleeve slidably mounted on the mandrel for movement to an upward position into engagement with the collet fingers.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved device for releasably anchoring well devices in a well flow conductor, wherein the anchoring device has resilient collet fingers longitudinally slidably mounted on and disposed about the mandrel and held in retracted positions by a retractor means which is movable out of engagement with the resilient fingers upon upward movement of the anchoring device in a well flow conductor to free the collet fingers for movement to expanded positions for engagement in a collar recess of the well flow conductor to limit downward movement of the anchoring device in the well flow conductor, the retracting means being a sleeve slidably mounted on the mandrel for movement to an upward position thereon into engagement with the collet fingers, the mandrel having a locking means movable inwardly of the collet fingers for holding the collet fingers in expanded positions upon upward movement of the mandrel relative to the collet fingers.

A very important object of the invention is to provide an improved device for releasably anchoring well devices in a well flow conductor, the anchoring device having resilient collet fingers longitudinally slidably mounted on a mandrel and held in retracted positions by a retractor sleeve provided with resilient outwardly biased catch members which are adapted to engage a downwardly facing obstruction in the well flow conductor upon upward movement of the anchoring device in the well flow conductor to free the collet fingers for movement to expanded positions for engagement to permit upward movement of the mandrel relative to the retractor sleeve to free the collet 3,126,059 Patented Mar. 24, 1964 fingers for movement to expanded positions for engagement with a downwardly facing obstruction of the well flow conductor to prevent downward movement of the anchoring device in the well flow conductor, the mandrel having a lock means engageable with lock recesses of the collet fingers upon subsequent downward movement of the mandrel relative to the collet fingers to lock the collet fingers in expanded positions to prevent longitudinal movement of the anchoring device in the well flow conductor in either longitudinal direction, the mandrel being provided with means for moving the catch members inwardly to retracted positions upon such subsequent downward movement of the mandrel relative to the collet fingers.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of devices constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the upper portions of a well tool embodying the anchoring device of the invention showing the well tool as it appears while being lowered by a suitable running tool through the well flow conductor;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 being a continuation thereof and showing the lower portions of the well tool;

FIGURE 3 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the well tool anchored in a predetermined position at a collar recess of the well How conductor;

FIGURE 4 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the upper portions of a modified form of the well tool embodying the anchoring device of the invention showing the well tool as it appears while being lowered through the well flow conductor by a running tool;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, being a continuation thereof, and showing the lower portions of the well tool;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the well tool of FIGURES 4 and 5 anchored in a landing nipple of the well flow conductor; and

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8--8 of FIGURE 7.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, the well tool or anchoring device 10 embodying the invention is shown suspended from a running tool 11 in a well flow conductor or tubing string T formed by a plurality of tubing sections 12 connected at adjacent ends by coupling collars 13 which hold the adjacent ends of each pair of sections spaced apart to form collar recesses 14 The well tool or anchoring device 10 includes a tubular mandrel 16 having an upper section 17 threaded into the upper end of a lower section 18. The lower mandrel section has an intermediate external flange 20 which provides a downwardly facing shoulder 21 to limit upward movement of a seal assembly 22 on the mandrel. A nut 23 threaded on the lower end of the lower mandrel section limits downward movement of the seal assembly on the mandrel.

The seal assembly includes shaped seal elements 24 and 25, 26 and a lower retaining sleeve 27. The retaining sleeve has a reduced upper end portion extending into the upper seal element 24 and engaging the inner flange thereof to hold it against the downwardly facing shoulder 21 of the lower mandrel section and also has an internal annular recess in which is disposed an O-ring or seal means 29 which seals between the upper retaining sleeve and the a pair of resilient cup an upper retaining sleeve lower mandrel section. The lower retainer sleeve similarly has a reduced upper end portion which extends into the lower seal element 25, the internal flange of the lower seal element being held between the upper end of the lower retaining sleeve and the bottom end of the upper retaining sleeve. It will be apparent that the seal elements will tend to expand when subjected to an upwardly acting fluid pressure into fluid tight engagement with the internal walls of the tubing string T to prevent flow of fluids between the mandrel and the tubing string so that any fluid flow must take place through the bore or longitudinal flow passage of the mandrel.

A collet 32 is slidably mounted on the upper mandrel section 17, its upward movement thereof being limited by the downwardly facing shoulder 33 of the flange 34 provided on the upper end of the upper mandrel section. The collet has a plurality of dependent resilient collet fingers 35 which are provided with external bosses 36. The external bosses 36 have downwardly and outwardly sloping upper cam shoulders 37 and downwardly facing stop shoulders 38 which extend substantially perpendic ularly from the collet fingers. The collet fingers are adapted to be held in the retracted positions illustrated in FIGURE 2 by a retractor sleeve 40 slidably mounted on the mandrel, the lower ends of the collet fingers below the shoulders 33 being adapted to telescope into the upper end of the retractor sleeve when the retractor sleeve is in the upper position on the mandrel shown in FIG- URE 2. The collet fingers and their bosses are locating means or locating and locking means for locating and locking the well tool in a desired position in a well flow conductor.

Downward movement of the retractor sleeve on the mandrel is limited by the engagement of the lower end of the retractor sleeve with the intermediate external flange 20 of the lower mandrel section while upward movement thereon is limited by the engagement of the upwardly facing shoulder 42 of the retractor sleeve with the downwardly facing shoulder 43 of a collet finger lock ring 44 threaded on the lower end of the upper mandrel section above the upper end of the lower mandrel section. The lock ring is provided with an upwardly and inwardly bevelled cam shoulder or surface 46 to facilitate its passage upwardly past and behind the collet fingers. It will be noted that the collet fingers 35 are spaced outwardly of the upper mandrel section to provide room for the lock ring 44 when the lower ends of the collet fingers are in their expanded positions.

The running tool 11 includes a tubular body 55) having a sub 51 threaded into the upper end thereof by means of which the running tool may be connected to a flexible line. A plunger 54 is slidably mounted in the tubular body 59 for limited longitudinal movement therein and has a longitudinal slot 55 in which a catch 56 is pivotally mounted by means of a pivot pin 57. The upper end 58 of the catch extends outwardly of the tubular body through a window 59 thereof and is biased for pivotal movement in a clockwise direction toward such position by a spring 66. One end of the spring is received in a slot 61 of the catch and its other end abuts a shoulder 62 of the plunger. The catch is also provided with a cam shoulder 65 adapted to be engaged by the edge 66 of the body defining the lower end of the window 59 upon upward movement of the tubular body relative to the plunger whereby the catch is cammed inwardly into the slot 55 upon such upward movement of the body.

The plunger has a reduced lower end portion 70 adapted to telescope into the upper end of the upper mandrel section 17 which in turn is adapted to be telescoped into the lower end of the tubular body of the running tool. The plunger 54, the upper mandrel section and the tubular body are provided with registering transverse apertures in which is disposed a shear pin 72. The shear pin releasably connects these elements of the anchoring well tool and of the running tool.

The upper end of the collet 32 has an external flange 76 which is also telescopable in the lower end of the tubular body and is secured thereto by shear pins 77 extending through aligned lateral apertures in the collet and the tubular body. Upward movement of the upper mandrel section in the tubular body of the running tool is limited by the engagement of the upper end of the upper mandrel section with the internal downwardly facing stop shoulder 79 of the tubular body. Downward movement of the plunger into the upper end of the upper mandrel section is limited by the annular downwardly facing shoulder 39 of the plunger which engages the upper end.

of the upper mandrel section. The plunger also has an intermediate downwardly facing stop shoulder 82 which engages the internal upwardly facing annular shoulder 83 of the tubular body to limit downward movement of the plunger in the tubular body. Lateral ports 85 provided in the tubular body above the annular shoulder 83 facilitate downward and upward movement of the plunger in the tubular body by afiording entry and egress of fluids into and from the tubular body between the shoulders 82 and 83 of the plunger and of the tubular body, respectively. The ports 85 also permit fluids rising in the bore of the well tool during its downward movement in the tubing string to flow past the flats 86 on the plunger 54 and through the ports into the tubing thereby reducing the tendency of the seal elements 24 and 25 to expand into contact with the walls of the tubing string and thus to obstruct or hamper such downward movement.

In use, when it is desired to position any well device in a predetermined position in the tubing string T, such well device is secured to the lower end of the lower mandrel section by means of the threads provided thereon. The collet 32 is then moved to an upper position on the upper mandrel section and the retractor sleeve 40 is moved to an upper position to telescope over the lower ends of the collet fingers below the downwardly facing shoulders of the external bosses 36 of the collet fingers. The resilient force of the collet fingers maintains the retractor sleeve in operative engagement with the collet fingers during downward movement of the well tool 10 through a tubing string. The upper ends of the upper mandrel section and of the collet are then telescoped into the lower end of the tubular body 50 of the running tool and secured to the plunger 54 and the tubular body, respectively, by the shear pins 72 and 77. The plunger is then in its raised position relative to the tubular body 50 of the running tool 11 and the upper end 58 of the catch 56 is biased outwardly through the window 59 of the tubular body into engagement with the internal wall surface of the well tubing string into which the running tool is inserted.

Since the collet fingers are now held in retracted positions, the downwardly facing shoulders 38 of the collet bosses of the collet fingers cannot engage any upwardly facing obstructions, such as the upper ends of the tubing section 12, during the passage of the well tool anchoring device or well tool 10 through the tubing string. The outer surfaces of the bosses are also held out of engagement with the internal surfaces of the tubing string thereby preventing any undue wear thereof.

As the running tool and well tool 10 are moved downwardly through the tubing string, the upper end of the catch 56 contacts the internal surfaces of the tubing and moves outwardly into each collar recess 14 as it passes it. When the anchoring device 10 has been lowered to a position below a preselected collar recess 14, the outer end of the catch enters such coupling recess and the running tool is then raised upwardly until the upper end of the catch engages the lower end of the tubing section 12 defining the upper side of the collar recess.

Upward jars are then imparted to the running tool. The force of such jars is imparted to the upper end of the mandrel 16, since the upper end of the mandrel is abutted by the downwardly facing stop shoulder of the plunger,

and is effective to cause the shear pin 72 to shear at the interface between the external flange 34 of the upper mandrel section and the abutting internal surface of the tubular body. Further upward jars are then imparted to the running tool causing the tubular body 50 of the running tool to move upward relative to the plunger and simultaneously causing the mandrel to move downwardly Within the collet. During such upward movement of the tubular body 50, t he engagement of the shoulders 65 and 66 of the catch and of the tubular body, respectively, cams the catch 56 into the slot 55.

Downward movement of the mandrel causes the retractor sleeve to move downwardly out of engagement with the collet fingers. The collet fingers once freed of engagement with the retractor sleeve move outwardly until their bosses 36 engage the internal surface of the tubing string.

The running tool is then raised upwardly until the bosses of the collet enter into the preselected collar recess 14. The downwardly facing shoulders 38 of the collet bosses may now engage the upper end of the lower tubing section 12 which defines the upper side of the collar recess. The running tool is then jarred downwardly and the force of such downward jars now causes the shear pin 77 to shear freeing the collet 32 from the tubular body. The running tool is then raised upwardly and, since the mandrel 16, is still connected to the plunger 54 by the inner portions of the shear pin 72, such upward movement of the running tool raises the mandrel until the lower ends of the collect fingers abut the upper end of the retractor sleeve whose downward movement is now limited by the engagement of its lower end with the upper end of the external flange 20 of the lower mandrel section 18. During such upward movement of the mandrel, the lock sleeve 44 moves behind or inwardly of the collet fingers, as illustrated in FIGURE 3, so that the lower ends of the collet fingers are now prevented from moving inwardly to their retracted positions. The collet bosses are thus locked in the collar recess 14. Further upward jars are again imparted to the running tool causing the shear pin 72 to shear between the reduced lower portion 70 of the body of the running tool and the upper section 17 of the tubular mandrel 16 whereby the running tool is freed from the well tool or anchoring device 10 for removal from the tubing string.

The anchoring device 10 is now held against removal from the tubing string since the bosses of the collet fingers are locked in the coupling recess and any upward movement of the well tool in an upward direction is limited by the engagement of the upper shoulders 37 of the collet bosses with the lower end of the upper tubing section 12 while downward movement of the well tool is limited by the engagement of the downwardly facing shoulders 38 of the collet fingers with the upper end of the adjacent lower tubing section. The seal assembly now seals between the lower tubing section 12 and the mandrel 16 so that all fluid flow past the well tool must go through the bore of the mandrel 16.

When it is desired to remove a well tool 10 from the tubing string, a suitable pulling tool, such as the pulling tool disclosed in the patent to Otis et al., No. 2,508,285, is lowered into the well flow conductor or tubing string by means of the usual flexible line until the hooking elements of such pulling tool engage the undercut annular shoulder 85 of the annular flange 76 on the upper end of the collet. Downward jars are then imparted through the pulling tool to the upper end of the mandrel to move the mandrel 16 downwardly relative to the collet 32. Such downward movement of the mandrel causes the locksleeve 44 to move downwardly from its locking position inwardly of the collet fingers to a lower position below the lower ends of the collet fingers whereby the collet fingers are freed to move inwardly from the expanded positions illustrated in FIGURE 3. An upward pull is then imparted to the pullin tool which causes the collet to move upwardly on the upper mandrel section until its upper end engages the downwardly facing shoulder 33 of the flange 34 on the upper end of the mandrel. During such upward movement of the collet, the camming action between the lower end of the upper tubing section 12 and the upper camming surfaces or shoulders 37 of the collect bosses move the collet bosses out of thecollar recess 14. A further upward pull imparted to the running tool then causes both the collet and the mandrel to move as a unit upwardly out of the tubing string, the collet fingers being biased inwardly each time the upper cam surfaces or shoulders 37 of the collet fingers encounter a downwardly facing obstruction in the well tool during such upward travel of the well tool.

It will now be seen that a new and improved device for releasably anchoring well devices in a well flow conductor has been illustrated and described which includes a mandrel provided with a locating and locking devicewhich is longitudinally slidable thereon and which is held in a retracted or inoperative posiiton by a ret-ractor means when the locating and locking means and the retractor means are both in upper positions relative to the mandrel.

-It will further be seen that downward movement of the mandrel relative to the locking and locating means moves the retractor means out of engagement With the locating and locking means which are then free to move outwardly into operative locating and looking positions in a well flow conductor.

It will further be seen that on subsequent movement of the anchoring device upwardly in the flow conductor the locating and locking means will move outwardly when aligned with an internal recess of the well how conductor to limit further upward movement of the locating and locking means is in its expanded operative position further upward movement of the mandrel causes the locking means to move into engagement with the locking and locating means to lock the locking and locating means in such recess of the well flow conductor whereby both upward and downward movement of the anchoring devices is limited by the locating and locking means.

It will further be seen that the anchoring device or well tool includes a mandrel 16 on which is longitudinally movable a collet 32 having resilient fingers provided 'with external bosses 36 which are adapted to engage downwardly and upwardly facing obstructions of a well flow conductor. t

It will further be seen that the mandrel 16 is also pro vided with a retractor sleeve also mounted for limited longitudinal movement on the mandrel which, when in an upper position on the mandrel, is engageable with the lower ends of the collet fingers to hold them in inner retracted or inoperative positions and out of engagement with the well flow conductor and which, when in a lower position on the mandrel, permits outward movement of the collet fingers into operative engagement with upwardly and downwardly facing obstructions of the well fiow conductor.

It will further be seen that the mandrel I16 is provided with a lock sleeve which is movable inwardly of the collet fingers to lock them in their expanded operative positions upon upward movement of the mandrel relative to the collet after the collet fingers have moved into their expanded operative position.

It will further be seen that a running tool 11 has been provided which individually releasably holds the collet and the mandrel in such positions that the collet fingers are disposed upwardly of the lock sleeve, the running tool having means for releasing the mandrel from the running tool to move the retractor slev'e out of engagement with the collet fingers to free them for movement to expanded operative positions, the collet being releasable from the running tool after the bosses of the collet have moved into outward operative position to permit the mandrel to move upwardly relative to the collet to move a locking means into engagement with the collet fingers to prevent inward movement of the collet fingers from their operative positions.

It will further be seen that the running tool includes a tubular body 56* and a plunger 54 held in an upper position in the tubular body by a releasable means or shear pin 72 until an upward movement is imparted to the tubular body to cause the catch 56 secured to the plunger to engage a downwardly facing obstruction of the well flow conductor to release the plunger for downward movement within the tubular body.

It will further be seen that the lower end of the plunger is also releasably connected with the mandrel 16 of the anchoring device and that the collet is releasably connected to the body of the running tool whereby, after the plunger has been released for movement in the tubular body, upward jars may be imparted to the tubular body to cause the plunger and mandrel to move downwardly relative to the collet to cause the retractor sleeve to move out of engagement with the collet fingers and release them for movement to expanded positions.

I It will further be seen that subsequent downward jars cause the collet to be freed from the tubular body whereby the mandrel is freed to move upwardly relative to the collet to cause the locking sleeve 44 to move inwardly of the collet fingers to hold them in expanded operative positions so that further upward jars after upward movement of the mandrel relative to the collet is arrested cause the releasable means 72 connecting the mandrel to the plunger of the running tool to shear whereby the running tool is freed from the anchoring device left locked in suitable collar recess of the well fiow conductor.

In FIGURES 4, 5, 6 and 7 is illustrated a modified form of the anchoring device embodying the invention. The anchoring device 109 includes a tubular mandrel 1111 having an upper section 1112 and a lower section 1113 threaded on the lower end of the upper section. A collet 104 is mounted for longitudinal movement on the upper mandrel section 162 and has an internal downwardly facing annular stop shoulder 1% adapted to engage the upwardly facing annular shoulder 1117 of the upper end of the lower mandrel section to limit downward movement of the collet on the mandrel. The collet has a plurality of resilient fingers 169 which are provided adjacent their lower ends with external locating and locking bosses 1113 having downwardly and outwardly extending upper cam shoulders 111 and abrupt downwardly facing lower shoulders 112. The collet fingers also have reduced lower end portions 114 adapted to telescope into the enlarged bore portion 116 of a retractor sleeve 117 when the collet fingers are in the retracted inner positions illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5, the retractor sleeve thus functioning to hold the external bosses 11b of the collet fingers out of engagement with the internal surfaces of a well flow conductor when the anchoring device 1% is being lowered therethrough to a predetermined level or position therein.

The bosses are also provided with lock recesses 121 having inwardly divergent shoulders 122 and 123. The internal surfaces of the lower portions of the collet fingers, below the recesses 124 formed to give greater flexibility to the fingers, engage the outer surface 125 of the upper portion of the lower mandrel section 1113 when the mandrel is in a lower position relative to the collet as illustrated in FlGURE 7. A lock flange 127 is disposed in the lock recess 121 of the collet fingers to prevent accidental longitudinal movement of the mandrel relative to the collet when the mandrel is in its lower position relative to the collet. The annular lock flange of the lower mandrel section has an upwardly and outwardly extending annular lower shoulder 128 adapted to engage the downwardly and inwardly extending upper shoulders 12? of the collet fingers to earn the collet fingers outwardly during downward movement of the mandrel relative to the collet to the locking position illustrated in FIGURE 7 and a downwardly and outwardly beveled shoulder 129a adapted to engage the upper shoulders 122 of the'lock recesses of the collet fingers to cam the collet fingers outwardly to permit upward movement of the mandrel toward the position illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5 when an upward force is exerted on the upper end of the mandrel by means of the undercut shoulder 130 of the external flange 131 at the upper end of the upper mandrel section. The collet 19 i is releasably secured to the mandrel in the lower position illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5 by a shear pin 133 which extends through a suitable lateral aperture in the upper end of the collet into an annular recess 134 of the upper mandrel section located above the upper end of the lower mandrel section.

An outer sleeve 135 extends about the mandrel and has an upper integral ring portion 136 received in an external annular groove 137 of the collet. The integral ring portion of the outer sleeve is split to provide for lateral outward movement thereof during its assembly on the collet 194. After the collet has been inserted in the outer sleeve and the ring is disposed in the groove 137 of the collet, the split ring portions of the outer sleeve are rejoined as by welding as is shown in FIGURE 8. The outer sleeve is provided with lateral longitudinal slots 141} through which the external bosses 11d of the keys may extend outwardly.

A packing sub 142 is threaded into the lower end of the outer sleeve and has an external intermediate flange 143 providing a downwardly facing annular stop shoulder 144 which limits upward movement of a packer assembly 145 on the seal sub. A retainer nut 147 threaded on the reduced lower end of the packer sub 142 limits downward movement of the packer assembly on the packer sub.

The retractor sleeve 117 is mounted for limited longitudinal movement in the outer sleeve, its upward movement being limited by the engagement of its internal upwardly facing annular shoulder 148 with the lower ends of the collet fingers and its downward movement in the outer sleeve being limited by the engagement of its lower end with the upper end of the packer sub 142.

The retractor sleeve is provided with a plurality of longitudinal radially extending outer grooves 150 in which are disposed resilient catch members 151 whose inner ends 153 are received in suitable apertures 154 of the retractor sleeve. The catch members are biased outwardly so that their outer free ends tend to extend upwardly and outwardly through the slots 14% of the outer sleeve below the collet fingers to engage the internal wall surfaces of the well flow conductor when the retractor sleeve is in the upper position illustrated in FIGURE 5, the upper free ends of the catch members being bent inwardly into the longitudinal grooves 15% due to the engagement thereof with the lower edges 155 of the slots 149 of the outer sleeve as the retractor sleeve moves downwardly into the outer sleeve from the upper position illustrated in FIG- URE S to the lower position illustrated in FIGURE 7.

In use, when it is desired to anchor at well device in a well conductor or tubing string T which includes the usual tubing sections 161 and a landing nipple 161 having a locating and locking recess 162 which provides an upwardly facing lower stop shoulder 163 and an upwardly and inwardly beveled upper shoulder 164, the well device is secured to the threaded lower end of the packer sub below the retainer nut 147. The mandrel 101 of the anchoring device is then moved upwardly relative to the collet 194 to the position illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5 and is releasably secured in such position by the shear pin 133. The upper enlarged portion of the lower mandrel section 1% is then disposed above the inner upper shoulders 129 of the resilient collet fingers 1419 so that the lower ends of the collet fingers may be bent inwardly and the retractor sleeve moved upwardly over the reduced lower end portions 114. The catch members 151 then have their outer ends extending outwardly from the longitudinal grooves of the retainer sleeve and through the slots 140 of the outer sleeve to engage the internal wall surfaces of the well flow conductor or tubing string T as the anchoring device is lowered through the tubing string.

A suitable running tool 165 is releasably secured to the upper end of the mandrel by engagement with the undercut shoulder 13% of its external flange 131. The running tool may be of the type disclosed in the patent to Otis, No. 2,348,563. The assembly of the running tool, the anchoring device and any other well device which is secured to the lower end of the packer sub is then lowered into the well flow conductor or tubing string T by means of a flexible line until the catch members 151 are positioned below the selected landing nipple 161 or below the landing and locking recess 162 of the landing nipple. If desired, the anchoring device may be lowered and to a position where the catch members are above the selected landing nipple but below any landing nipple of the tubing string which is above the selected landing nipple. The assembly is then pulled upwardly to cause the free upper ends of the resilient catch members 151 to engage a downwardly facing obstruction of the well flow conductor, such as the lower end 167 of the landing nipple, the downwardly facing shoulder 164 of the locating and locking recess 162 thereof, or a downwardly facing shoulder of the tubing string which is above the selected landing nipple if the catch fingers have not been lowered below the locking recess of the selected landing nipple.

A further upward pull then exerted on the running tool causes the mandrel and the collet to move upwardly relative to the retractor sleeve since such engagement of the upper ends of the resilient catch members with a downwardly facing obstruction of the well flow conductor prevents further upward movement of the retractor sleeve in the tubing string. During such upward movement of the outer sleeve and the mandrel relative to the retractor sleeve, the lower reduced ends of the collet fingers move out of the enlarged recess 116 in the upper end of the retractor sleeve whereby the external bosses of the collet fingers are freed to move outwardly from the retracted positions in which they had previously been held by the retractor sleeve. Continued upward movement of the outer sleeve and the mandrel causes the catch members to be moved into retracted positions in the longitudinal grooves 159 of the retractor sleeve by their engagement with the shoulders 155 at the lower ends of the slots 140.

The anchoring device is then moved upwardly or downwardly until the external bosses of the collet fingers enter into the locating and locking recess 162 of the landing nipple. Downward movement of the outer sleeve in the landing nipple is then prevented due to the engagement of the downwardly facing stop shoulders 112 of the external bosses with the upwardly facing shoulders 163 of the landing nipple. Downward blows are then imparted to the mandrel by means of the running tool to cause the shear pin 133 to shear and permit downward movement of the mandrel relative to the collet. Downward jars or blows imparted to the upper end of the mandrel by means of the running tool after the pin is sheared cause the enlarged upper end of the lower mandrel section to move into alignment with the collet finger bosses and the engagement of the cam shoulder 128 of the lower mandrel section and the cam shoulders 129 of the collet fingers moves the resilient cam fingers outwardly to permit such downward movement of the mandrel relative to the collet. Downward movement of the mandrel is arrested by the engagement of its lower end with the upwardly facing shoulder 148 of the retractor sleeve when the external locking flange 127 of the mandrel is in alignment and received in the lock recesses 121 of the collet fingers. The engagement of the lock flange 127 in the lock recesses 121 prevents accidental upward displacement of the mandrel relative to the collet. The running tool is then moved out of engagement with the upper mandrel section and removed from the tubing string, the anchoring tool 100 and 10 the well device to which it is connected being left locked in position in the selected landing nipple.

When it is desired to remove the anchoring tool from the tubing string, a suitable pulling tool is lowered into the tubing string to engage the undercut annular shoulder 13% of the upper mandrel section and an upward force exerted thereon then causes the mandrel to move upwardly relative to the collet. The camming engagement of the annular shoulder 12% with the upper shoulders 122 of the lock recess of the cam fingers moves the collet fingers outwardly to permit such upward movement of the mandrel. When the lower shoulder 12% of the mandrel is positioned above the upper shoulders 129 of the cam fingers, the cam fingers are free to move inwardly. Continued upward movement of the mandrel then causes the upwardly facing shoulder 107 on the upper end of the lower mandrel section to engage the downwardly facing shoulder 106 of the collet whereby further upward movement of the mandrel causes the collet to move upwardly therewith. During such upward movement of the mandrel and the collet, the collet fingers are cammed inwardly whenever the upper cam shoulders 111 of the external bosses of the collet fingers engage such downwardly facing obstructions in the well flow conductor as the downwardly facing upper shoulder 164 of the landing nipple recess 162.

The anchoring device may then be moved upwardly to another landing nipple connected higher up in the tubing string whereupon downward movement of the mandrel after the collet bosses have moved into the locating and locking recess of such upper landing nipple will again cause the anchoring device to be locked in such upper landing nipple against displacement thereof. Alternately, the anchoring device may be removed completely from the upper end of the tubing string.

It will be apparent that the bosses of the collet lingers may be made of such longitudinal dimensions as to enter and be locked in coupling recesses such as the coupling recess 14 illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3 instead of in the landing nipple. Similarly, the col-let bosses 36 of the anchoring device 10 of FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 may be made of such longitudinal dimensions as to enter and be locked in a landing nipple.

It will now be apparent that a new and improved well tool or anchoring device has been described and illustrated which includes a collet having resilient collet fingers longitudinally slidably mounted on a mandrel for limited longitudinal movement and that a retractor sleeve or means is provided for holding the [collet fingers in inoperative positions.

It will further be seen that the retraotor means or sleeve is provided with resilient catch members 151 which are adapted to extend outwardly of the anchoring device to engage a downwardly facing obstruction of the well flow conductor to cause the retractor sleeve to be moved out of engagement with the collet fingers to allow them to move [toward expanded positions upon upward movement of the anchoring device in the well flow conductor.

It (will further be seen that while the collet fingers are held in their retracted positions, the external surfaces of bosses of the collet fingers are held out of contact with the internal wall surfaces of the well flow conductor and are thus protected from undue wear.

It will further be seen that the mandrel is provided with a locking means engageable with the collet fingers to lock them against inward displacement toward retracted position from their expanded positions.

It will further be seen that the collet fingers and the mandrel are provided with cooperable flange and recess means which prevent accidental upward displacement of the mandrel relative to the collet fingers.

It will now be seen that both forms of the anchoring device or well tool are provided with locating and looking means which are held in retracted positions by a retractor sleeve and that the collet is movable upwardly relative ill to the retractor sleeve to cause the collet fingers to be moved out of engagement with the retractor sleeve and freed for movement to outer expanded or operative positions upon upward movement of the collet in the well flow conductor.

it will further be seen that in one embodiment of the invention, the means for preventing upward movement of the retractor sleeve during upward movement of the collet is a catch provided on a running tool 11 while in the other form of the well tool the catch means for holding the retractor sleeve against upward movement in the well fiow conductor are catch members 151 mounted on the retractor sleeve itself.

It will further be seen that in both forms of the well tool the bosses of the collet fingers are held inwardly in retracted positions during movement of the anchoring device to a predetermined position in the well flow conductor and out of engagement with the internal wall surfaces of the well flow conductor whereby undue wear of the bosses is prevented.

It will further be seen that in both forms of the invention the anchoring device may be anchored in any number of successively higher positions in the well flow conduotor whereby adjustment of the vertical position of the anchoring device in the well flow conductor may be easily made.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A device for releasably anchoring well tools at a selected level within a well flow conductor comprising: a mandrel; outwardly biased locating means expansibly and longitudinally movably mounted upon the mandrel, said locating means having an upper surface inclined outwardly downwardly of the longitudinal axis of the mandrel and a stop surface disposed below the upper surface and substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel; retractor means longitudinally slidably mounted on the mandrel below the locating means and engageable with the locating means when in an upper position on said mandrel; said mandrel having means thereon engageable with said retractor means for moving said retraetor means downwardly relative to said locating means; said retraotor means freeing the locating means for outward move ent upon downward movement of said retnactor means relative to said locating means; and locking means rigid with the mandrel disposed below the locating means :and movable into engagement with the locating means upon subsequent upward movement of the mandrel after the locating means are moved to said expanded position to prevent movement of the locating means inwardly from said expanded positions.

2. A device for releasably anchoring Well tools at a seleoted level within a well flow conductor comprising: a mandrel; outwardly biased locating means expansibly and longitudinally movably mounted upon the mandrel, the eating means having an upper surface inclined outwardly downwardly of the longitudinal axis of the mandrel and a stop surface disposed below the upper surface and substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel; retractor means longitudinally slidably mounted on the mandrel below the locating means and engageable with the locating means when in an upper position on said mandrel; means on said mandrel engageable with said retractor means for moving said retractor means downwardly relative to said locating means upon downward movement of said mandrel relative to said locating means, said retractor means freeing the locating means for outward movement upon downward movement of said retractor means relative to said locating means; and locking means rigid with the mandrel disposed below the locating means and movable into engagement with the locating means upon subsequent upward movement of the mandrel after the locating means are moved to said expanded position to prevent movement of the locating means inwardly from said expanded positions, said retractor means being engageable with said locating means to limit subsequent upward movement of the retractor means on said mandrel.

3. A device for releasably anchoring well tools at a selected level within a well flow conductor comprising: a mandrel; outwardly biased locating means expansibly and longitudinally movably mounted upon the mandrel, the locating means having an upper surface inclined outwardly downwardly of the longitudinal axis of the mandrel and a stop surface disposed below the upper surface and substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel; retractor means longitudinally slidably mounted on the mandrel below the locating means and engageable with the locating means when in an upper position on said mandrel; means on said mandrel engageable with said retractor means upon downward movement of said mandrel relative to said locating means to move said retractor means downwardly relative to said locating means, said retractor means freeing the locating means for outward movement upon downward movement of said retractor means relative to said locating means; and locking means rigid with the mandrel disposed below the locating means and movable into engagement with the locating means upon subsequent upward movement of the mandrel after the locating means are moved to said expanded position to prevent movement of the locating means inwardly from said expanded positions, said retractor means being engageable with said locating means to limit subsequent upward movement of the retraetor means on said mandrel, said mandrel having stop means engageable with said retractor means for limiting downward movement of the retractor means on said mandrel, such engagement of said stop means on said mandrel with said retractor means limiting upward movement of said mandrel relative to said locating means.

4. A device for releasably anchoring well tools at a selected level within a well flow conductor comprising: a mandrel; outwardly biased locating means expansibly and longitudinally movably mounted upon the mandrel, the locating means having an upper surface inclined outwardly downwardly of the longitudinal axis of the mandrel and a stop surface disposed below the upper surface and substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel; retractor means longitudinally slidably mounted on the mandrel below the locating means and engageable with the locating means when in an upper position on said mandrel; means on said mandrel engageable with said retractor means upon downward movement of said mandrel relative to said locating means to move said retractor means downwardly relative to said locating means, said retractor means freeing the locating means for outward movement upon downward movement of said retractor means relative to said locating means; locking means rigid with the mandrel disposed below the locating means and movable into engagement with the locating means upon subsequent upward movement of the mandrel after the locating means are moved to said expanded position to prevent movement of the locating means inwardly from said expanded positions, said retractor means being on gageable with said locating means to limit subsequent upward movement of the retractor means on said mandrel, and stop means on said mandrel engageable with said retractor means limiting upward movement of said mandrel relative to said locating means when said retractor means is in a lower position on said mandrel and the loeating means are in expanded positions.

5. A device for releasably anchoring well tools at a selected level within a well flow conductor comprising: an elongate tubular mandrel having a body portion, a neck portion and an external flange at the upper end of said neck portion spaced from said body portion; a collet mounted for limited longitudinal movement upon the neck portion of the mandrel, said flange on said mandrel having a downwardly facing shoulder engageable by the upper end of the collet to limit upward movement of the collet on the mandrel, said collet having a collet finger provided with external locating means adjacent the lower end thereof, said locating means having an upper surface inclined outwardly downwardly of the longitudinal axis of the collet and a stop surface disposed below the upper surface and substantially normal to longitudinal axis of the mandrel, said collet finger being normally spaced outwardly of the mandrel; a retractor sleeve longitudinally slidably mounted on the mandrel below the collet and telescopable over lower end of said collet finger when said retractor sleeve is in an upper position on said mandrel to hold the lower end of the collet finger and the locating means thereon in inner retracted position adjacent to the mandrel; means on said mandrel movable therewith into engagement with said retractor sleeve for moving said retractor sleeve downwardly relative to said collet finger, said retractor sleeve freeing the collet finger for outward movement upon downward movement of said retractor sleeve relative to the collet finger; and a locking means on the mandrel and movable inwardly of the collet finger to engage said finger to prevent inward movement of the collet finger toward retracted position upon upward movement of the mandrel subsequent to the movement of the resilient finger to expanded position.

6. A device for releasably anchoring well tools at a selected elevel within a well flow conductor comprising: an elongate tubular mandrel having a body portion, a neck portion and an external flange at the upper end of said neck portion spaced from said body portion; a collet mounted for limited longitudinal movement upon the neck portion of the mandrel, said flange on said mandrel having a downwardly facing shoulder engageable by the upper end of the collet to limit upward movement of the collet on the mandrel, said collet having a collet finger provided with external locating means adjacent the lower end thereof, said locating means having an upper surface inclined outwardly downwardly of the longitudinal axis of the collet and a stop surface disposed below the upper surface and substantially normal to longitudinal axis of the mandrel; said collet finger being normally spaced outwardly of the mandrel; a retractor sleeve longitudinally slidably mounted on the mandrel below the collet and telescopable over lower end of said collet finger when said retractor sleeve is in an upper position on said mandrel to hold the lower end of the collet finger and the locating means thereon in inner retracted position adjacent to the mandrel means on said mandrel movable therewith into engagement with said retractor sleeve for moving said retractor sleeve downwardly relative to said collet finger, said retractor sleeve freeing the collet finger for outward movement upon downward movement of said retractor sleeve relative to the collet finger; and a locking means on the mandrel and movable inwardly of the collet finger to engage said finger to prevent inward movement of the collet finger toward retracted position upon upward movement of the mandrel subsequent to the movement of the resilient finger to expanded position, said mandrel and said retractor sleeve having coengageable means limiting upward movement of the retractor sleeve on the mandrel.

7. A device for releasably anchoring well tools at a selected level within a well flow conductor comprising: an elongate tubular mandrel having a body portion, a neck portion and an external flange at the upper end of said neck portion spaced from said body portion; a collet mounted for limited longitudinal movement upon the neck portion of the mandrel, said flange on said mandrel having a downwardly facing shoulder engageable by the upper end of the collet to limit upward movement of the collet on the mandrel, said collet having a collet finger provided with external locating means adjacent the lower end thereof, said locating means having an upper surface inclined outwardly downwardly of the longitudinal axis of the collet and a stop surface disposed below the upper surface and substantially normal to longitudinal axis of the mandrel; said collet finger being normally spaced outwardly of the mandrel; a retractor sleeve longitudinally slidably mounted on the mandrel below the collet and telescopable over lower end of said collet finger when said retractor sleeve is in an upper position on said mandrel to hold the lower end of the collet finger and the locating means thereon in inner retracted position adjacent to the mandrel; means on said mandrel movable therewith into engagement with said retractor sleeve for moving said retractor sleeve downwardly relative to said collet finger, said retractor sleeve freeing the collet finger for outward movement upon downward movement of said retractor sleeve relative to the collet finger; and a locking means on the mandrel and movable inwardly of the collet finger to engage said finger to prevent inward movement of the collet finger toward retracted position upon upward movement of the mandrel subsequent to the movement of the resilient finger to expanded position, said mandrel and said retractor sleeve having coengageable means limiting upward movement of the retractor sleeve on the mandrel, said mandrel and said retractor sleeve having coengageable means to limit downward movement of the retractor sleeve on the mandrel, said retractor sleeve engaging the lower end of the collet finger to limit upward movement of the mandrel relative to the collet finger when the collet finger is in the expanded position, said retractor sleeve extending about and upwardly of the locking means when the retractor sleeve is in an upper position on the mandrel.

8. A device for releasably anchoring well tools at a selected level within a Well flow conductor comprising: an elongate tubular mandrel having a body portion, a neck portion and an external flange at the upper end of said neck portion spaced from said body portion; a collet mounted for limited longitudinal movement upon the neck portion of the mandrel, said flange on said mandrel having a downwardly facing shoulder engageable by the upper end of the collet to limit upward movement of the collet on the mandrel, said collet having a collet finger provided with external locating means adjacent the lower end thereof, said locating means having an upper surface inclined outwardly downwardly of the longitudinal axis of the collet and a stop surface disposed below the upper surface and substantially normal to longitudinal axis of the mandrel; said collet finger being normally spaced outwardly of the mandrel; a retractor sleeve longitudinally slidably mounted on the mandrel below the collet and telescopable over lower end of said collet finger when said retractor sleeve is in an upper position on said mandrel to hold the lower end of the collet finger and the locating means thereon in inner retracted position adjacent to the mandrel; means on said mandrel movable therewith into engagement with said retractor sleeve for moving said retractor sleeve downwardly relative to said collet finger, said retractor sleeve freeing the' collet finger for outward movement upon downward movement of said retractor sleeve relative to the collet finger; and a locking means on the mandrel and movable inwardly of the collet finger to engage said finger to prevent inward movement of the collet finger toward retracted position upon upward movement of the mandrel subsequent to the movement of the resilient finger to expanded position, said mandrel and said retractor sleeve having coengageable means limiting upward movement of the retractor sleeve on the mandrel, said mandrel and said retractor sleeve having coengageable means to limit downward movement of the retractor sleeve on the mandrel, said retractor sleeve engaging the lower end of the collet finger to limit upward movement of the mandrel relative to the collet finger when the collet finger is in the expanded position, said retractor sleeve extending about and upwardly of the locking means when the retractor sleeve is in an upper position on the mandrel.

neck portion and an external flange at the upper end of said neck portion spaced from said body portion; a collet mounted for limited longitudinal movement upon the neck portion of the mandrel, said flange on said mandrel having a downwardly facing shoulder engageable by the upper end of the collet to limit upward movement of the collet on the mandrel, said collet having a collet finger provided with external locating means adjacent the lower end thereof, said locating means having an upper surface inclined outwardly downwardly of the longitudinal axis of the collet and a stop surface disposed below the upper surface and substantially normal to longitudinal axis of the mandrel; said collet finger being normally spaced outwardly of the mandrel; a retractor sleeve longitudinally slidably mounted on the mandrel below the collet and telescopable over lower end of said collet finger when said retractor sleeve is in an upper position on said mandrel to hold the lower end of the collet finger and the locating means thereon in inner retracted position adjacent to the mandrel; means on said mandrel movable therewith into engagement with said retractor sleeve for moving said retractor sleeve downwardly relative to said collet finger, said retractor sleeve freeing the collet finger for outward movement upon downward movement of said retractor sleeve relative to the collet finger; and a locking means on the mandrel and movable inwardly of the collet finger to engage said finger to prevent inward movement of the collet finger toward retracted position upon upward movement of the mandrel subsequent to the movement of the resilient finger to expanded position, said mandrel and said retractor sleeve having coengageable means limiting upward movement of the retractor sleeve on the mandrel, said retractor sleeve extending about and upwardly of the locking means when the retractor sleeve is in an upper position on the mandrel.

10. A device for releasably anchoring well tools at a selected level within a well flow conductor comprising: an elongate mandrel having a longitudinal linearly open flow passage therethrough and having an external annular flange at its upper end adapted for connection with a running tool; outwardly biased locating means slidably mounted on the mandrel below said flange, said locating means having an upper surface inclined outwardly and downwardly of the longitudinal axis of the mandrel and a stop surface disposed below the upper surface and substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel; retractor means carried by said mandrel below said locating means and mounted for limited longitudinal movement relative to said mandrel, said retractor means being engageable with the locating means when in an upper position relative to said mandrel to hold said locating means in an inward inoperative position, said retractor means being movable longitudinally of the said mandrel out of engagement with said locating means to free said locating means for outward movement relative to said mandrel to an operative projecting position for engaging said well flow conductor; and means on said mandrel movable longitudinally therewith into engagement with said locating means to hold said locating means in such projecting position.

11. A device of the character set forth in claim wherein said mandrel has means thereon engageable with said retractor means for moving said retractor means downwardly relative to said locating means to release said locating means for movement to projecting position upon relative longitudinal movement between said mandrel and said locating means.

12. A device for releasably anchoring well tools at a selected level within a well flow conductor comprising: a mandrel; a locating and locking means expansible mounted on the mandrel, the locating and locking means having an upper surface inclined outwardly downwardly of the longitudinal axis of the mandrel and a stop surface disposed below the upper surface and substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel; retractor means operatively connected with the mandrel below the locating and locking means and movable longitudinally relative to the mandrel between a first position wherein said retractor means is engaged with said locating and locking means and a second position wherein said retractor means is disengaged from said locating and locking means and said locating and locking means is free to move outwardly, said retractor means assuming said second position upon upward movement of the mandrel through the Well flow conductor; means on said mandrel movable longitudinally therewith into engagement with said locating and locking means to hold said locating and locking means in such outwardly projecting position.

13. A device for releasably anchoring well tools at a selected level within a well flow conductor comprising: a mandrel having a linear longitudinal open flow passage; outwardly biased locating means expansibly mounted upon the mandrel, the locating means having an upper surface inclined outwardly downwardly of the longitudinal axis of the mandrel and a stop surface disposed below the upper surface and substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel; retractor means longitudinally slidably mounted on the mandrel and engageable with the locating means when in an upper position on said mandrel, said mandrel having means thereon engageable with said retractor means upon downward movement of said mandrel relative to said locating means for moving said retractor means downwardly relative to said locating means, said retractor means freeing the 10- cating means for outward movement upon downward movement of said retractor means relative to said 10- cating means; and locking means on the mandrel movable into engagement with the locating means upon subsequent upward movement of the mandrel after the locating means are moved to said expanded positions.

14. In combination with device of claim 13: a running tool having a tubular body, a plunger longitudinally movable in the body and catch member connected to said plunger, the mandrel having an open upper end releasably connected by a first means to the tubular body, the 10- cating means having an upper end releasably connected by a second means to the tubular body, said plunger and said mandrel having coengageable stop meansfor limiting downward movement of the plunger relative to said mandrel, said first releasable means being disconnected from said mandrel to free said mandrel for downward movement relative to the locating means and the retractor means upon upward movement of the tubular body in a Well flow conductor after the catch member has engaged a downwardly facing obstruction of the well flow conductor.

15. A device for releasably anchoring well tools at a selected level within a well flow conductor comprising: a mandrel; outwardly biased locating means expansibly mounted upon the mandrel, said locating means having an upper surface inclined outwardly downwardly of the longitudinal axis of the mandrel and a stop surface disposed below the upper surface and substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel; retractor means operatively connected with the mandrel and longitudinally movable relative to said locating means and engageable with said locating means when in an upper position relative to said locating means for holding said locating means in retracted position, said retractor means being movable to a lower position, said retractor means being movable to a lower position freeing said locating means for outward movement upon downward movement of said retractor means relative to said locating means; means for moving said retractor means to said lower position; and means on said mandrel for engaging and holding said locating means in expanded position upon subsequent 17 longitudinal movement of said mandrel with respect to said locating means.

16. A device for releasably anchoring well tools at a selected level within a well flow conductor comprising: an elongate tubular mandrel having a lower body portion and an upper elongate neck portion with an external annular flange at the upper end of said neck portion spaced from said body portion; a collet mounted on the neck portion of the mandrel for limited longitudinal movement thereon between the body portion and the flange of said mandrel, the collet having a resilient collet finger biased outwardly toward an expanded position, the collet finger having an external locating and locking boss on the lower end thereof, and a retractor sleeve carried by said mandrel longitudinally movable relative to said mandrel for releasably holding the collet finger in retracted position when the retractor sleeve is in an upper position relative to the mandrel, said retractor sleeve being movable downwardly relative to said mandrel out of engagement with said collet finger to permit said collet finger to be biased outwardly to expanded position.

17. A device for releasably anchoring well tools at a selected level within a well flow conductor comprising: an elongate tubular mandrel having a lower body portion and an upper elongate neck portion with an external annular flange at the upper end of said neck portion spaced from said body portion; a collet mounted on the neck portion of the mandrel for limited longitudinal movement thereon, the collet having a resilient collet finger biased outwardly toward an expanded position, the collet finger having an external locating and locking boss on the lower end thereof; a retractor sleeve carried by said mandrel longitudinally movable relative to said mandrel for releasably holding the collet finger in retracted position when the retractor sleeve is in an upper position on the mandrel; said retractor sleeve being movable downwardly relative to said mandrel out of engagement with said collet finger to permit said collet finger to be biased outwardly to expanded position; and a locking means on the mandrel and movable therewith into engagement with the inner portion of the collet finger upon longitudinal movement of the mandrel relative to the collet finger after the collet finger has moved to said expanded position to lock said collet finger in said expanded position against movement to retracted position.

18. A device for releasably anchoring well tools at a selected level within a well flow conductor comprising: a mandrel; a collet mounted on the mandrel for limited longitudinal movement thereon, the collet having a resilient collet finger biased outwardly toward an expanded position, the collet finger having an external locating and locking boss on the lower end thereof, and a retractor sleeve carried by said mandrel longitudinally movable relative to said collet finger for limited longitudinal movement relative to the collet finger for releasably holding the collet finger in retracted position when the retractor sleeve is in an upper position relative to the collet finger, the retractor sleeve having an outwardly biased catch member for engaging a downwardly facing obstruction of the Well fiow conductor upon upward movement of the device in the well flow conductor to move the retractor sleeve out of engagement with the collet finger; and an outer sleeve secured to said collet, said sleeve having a longitudinal slot, said locking boss extending through the slot, the catch member having an upper free end extending upwardly outwardly through the slot and being moved to retracted position in the outer sleeve upon downward movement of said retractor sleeve to said outer sleeve resulting from upward movement of the device in the well flow conductor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,605,843 Baker Aug. 5, 1952 2,673,614 Miller Mar. 30, 1954 2,698,056 Marshall et al Dec. 28, 1954 2,798,559 Fredd July 9, 1957 2,856,003 Fredd Oct. 14, 1958 2,862,564 Bostock Dec. 2, 1958 2,871,947 Fredd Feb. 3, 1959 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,126,059 March 24 1964 John V: Fredd It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column :3. line 3%, after "means" insert and that once the iocatlng and locking means Signed and sealed this 28th day of July 1964 (SEAL) Attest:

ESTON G. JOHNSON EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner Of Patents 

1. A DEVICE FOR RELEASABLY ANCHORING WELL TOOLS AT A SELECTED LEVEL WITHIN A WELL FLOW CONDUCTOR COMPRISING: A MANDREL; OUTWARDLY BIASED LOCATING MEANS EXPANSIBLY AND LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLY MOUNTED UPON THE MANDREL, SAID LOCATING MEANS HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE INCLINED OUTWARDLY DOWNWARDLY OF THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE MANDREL AND A STOP SURFACE DISPOSED BELOW THE UPPER SURFACE AND SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE MANDREL; RETRACTOR MEANS LONGITUDINALLY SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON THE MANDREL BELOW THE LOCATING MEANS AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE LOCATING MEANS WHEN IN AN UPPER POSITION ON SAID MANDREL; SAID MANDREL HAVING MEANS THEREON ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID RETRACTOR MEANS FOR MOVING SAID RETRACTOR MEANS DOWNWARDLY RELATIVE TO SAID LOCATING MEANS; SAID RETRACTOR MEANS FREEING THE LOCATING MEANS FOR OUTWARD MOVEMENT UPON DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID RETRACTOR MEANS RELATIVE TO SAID LOCATING MEANS; AND LOCKING MEANS RIGID WITH 